Tower Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks in the world, and it's always a highlight of any tour I lead.
In this post, I'm going to provide details about when Tower Bridge is lifted for passing ships, and how to make sure you can catch a glimpse of the rare sighting.
I'll include tips on the best places to see the event.
Note that there is no set schedule for the Tower Bridge to open, so it’s not an activity or event that can be easily planned out in a short amount of time.
The bridge opens around 800 times (!) throughout the year for all types of vessels, including visiting naval flagships, cruise boats, and even old tea clippers. That said, I see cruise boats the most often while I'm guiding tours along the river.
It's always exciting when I am bringing a tour group around the corner and I see that the bridge is about to raise. Even though the schedule can change from day-to-day, there are certain factors that can increase your likelihood of being able to catch this event.
Now, while I can't guarantee you'll see it while you're in London, one of my fellow guides Sinead filmed a Tower Bridge lift for you.
Tower Bridge openings typically happen almost precisely when they are scheduled, so it will be important to be on time and prepared for the event.
There's also the matter of random traffic jams or other delays that might prevent you from getting here on time. If I am going to be bringing guests down to see it, I always get there 10 minutes ahead of time just to be on the safe side.
Unfortunately, even if you do everything right, seeing the Tower Bridge lift is sometimes easier said than done, because the planned lifts for each day (or week) often depend entirely upon the needs of the companies who own the boats that are invited to pass underneath the bridge.
In other words, if they decide not to send a boat on a specific date that they have planned to do so, you could still miss out even if you follow the schedule.
If you're wondering how it is decided whether or not a boat will be allowed to pass, the vessel must have a mast or superstructure of 30ft (9m) or more, and they can book a bridge opening via email.
My favourite detail about this fact is that the cost to the vessel owners is zero!
Tower Bridge in Winter vs Summer
During the winter, days and even weeks can pass between one bridge opening and the next.
It's summer that I personally see the most action.
In fact, in my busy season (May to August), the bridge can lift a dozen times in a day!
The first thing I do is to check the official website of Tower Bridge.
Their page provides bridge lift times and other details, including information about what types of vessels will be passing the bridge.
I have used my experiences to help craft this guide to witnessing Tower Bridge open.
Also note that our City of London Walking Tour and our All in One Walking Tour both include Tower Bridge, and every so often, the time gods bless us with a lift during our tour.
- Best Places for Photographs and Selfies
- What to Expect
- Walking Across Tower Bridge
- London Bridge vs Tower Bridge
Will Tower Bridge lift on Christmas or New Years Eve?
The 2025 New Year's Eve in London is going to be exciting as the city's top attraction is going to lift 2 times for the vessel Paddle Steamer Dixie Queen.
The Dixie Queen is London's largest luxury boat available for private hire. Sadly, I have yet to be invited to board!
As part of a party held on the boat, Tower Bridge is going to lift twice to let the Dixie Queen through, and then out again.
The current scheduled times are 19:15 and 20:00.
And a side note: I get asked by people a lot about where to go see the New Years Eve fireworks in London and one thing I want to tell you now is NOT to head to Tower Bridge.
With the way the river curves, you can't actually see the fireworks display there.
I prefer to watch on tele (or out my window, although I have to lean quite far and have usually had a few glasses of champagne by that point), but if you want to go in person, check out my post on where to watch the NYE Fireworks in London.
There are no plans for the Tower Bridge to open on Christmas in 2025.
Where to See the Tower Bridge Opening
There are plenty of great places to see the opening roadways of this famous bridge.
Here are a few of my recommendations:
Northern Bank | Western Side
On the northern river banks of the river Thames, you’ll find there’s a great vantage point on the western side of Tower Bridge.
This location is popular due to its proximity to both the bridge and the Tower of London.
It's also right next to where I finish my All in One Tour so it's convenient for my guests to get some great shots after we're done.
Northern Bank | Eastern Side
The photo opportunities at the above location are great but if I want to get photos of the Bridge, I prefer to walk a bit further down.
I travel pass the Tower of London and under the bridge toward the Tower Hotel.
It's usually quieter here and with fewer people so I'm able to get clearer shots.
I think it's quieter here because this spot isn’t as close to the Tower of London, but it’s still a great angle to view the Tower Bridge opening.
If you want to know exactly where I would stand, look for the Timepiece Sundial, which is located at the entrance to St. Katherine's Docks.
(And then visit the Docks afterwards! St. Katherine's Docks are one of my favourite hidden London gems and Traders Wine Bar is fantastic.)
Southern Bank | City Hall
Located on the opposite side of the Thames from the Tower of London, City Hall is also a great place where you can stop and enjoy excellent views of the Tower Bridge opening.
However, I have found in recent times that this is probably the busiest place to get photographs.
I think it's because of the popularity of the shots here on Instagram and TikTok.
Sometimes it's almost impossible for me to get close enough to the wall to get a photo because there are so people standing on the edge and posing for their content.
Southern Bank | View From the Shard
In my opinion, this wouldn't be the BEST view.
You'll be looking from a distance but, it’s worth noting that on any clear day, you'd be able to see the opening Tower Bridge from the Shard.
If you’re interested in a view from above, this is an excellent idea you might want to consider.
Southern Bank | Butler’s Wharf
This location is on the eastern side of Tower Bridge.
Similar to my recommendation of visiting The Timepiece Sundial, this location seems to be relatively undiscovered by most tourists.
I very rarely see visitors here taking photographs.
I am usually here to have a bite to eat or grab a glass of wine while sitting outside on some of the lovely terraces so you may well spot me!
I love Le Post de la Tour but All Bar One's prices honestly can't be beat.
Inside the Tower Bridge Experience
Any time I am giving a tour that includes Tower Bridge, I can guarantee that somebody will ask me, "Is visiting the Tower Bridge Experience worth it?"
And honestly, it depends on your interests!
I've noticed that the big draw for most people is the glass-bottom floor which goes across the entire span of the bridge.
You can either walk up the stairs or take a lift to reach the top.
From here, you can walk across the bridge using the east and west walkways - although I have seen plenty of people walk AROUND the glass for fear of it breaking!
If you love history and/or mechanics then I'd say it's worth it to visit the Experience.
But if you only want to come for the glass floor photographs, you may be disappointed.
Every time I've gone it has been absolutely packed with people dancing on and laying on the glass to get selfies.
But, note that if you visit during a time when the bridge is lifting, you might have a chance of seeing the bridge lift from above!
How Long Does it Take to Open?
The whole process of the bridge lifting takes about 3-5 minutes, so it’ll be over in no time!
That’s why it’s important to consider arriving at least a short while before the event is scheduled. As I said, I like to get there about 10 minutes beforehand.
However, if you run late or you get stuck on the tube (it happens to us all!) and you miss the bridge opening in summer, chances are there will be another one happening in a few hours.
So, you can usually just grab a bite to eat or enjoy some sightseeing while you’re waiting for the next opportunity.
Thankfully, there are a lot of places nearby where I like to stop for a coffee, and there's always the amazing Borough Market to explore on the southern side of London Bridge.
However, if you arrive too late during the winter, you might just have to head back home and wait for a few days (or even a week!) until the next bridge lift is scheduled.
How does Tower Bridge go up and down?
I was surprised to learn that, technically speaking, Tower Bridge isn't actually a draw bridge!
It's a bascule bridge that goes up and down through a bascule mechanism operated by a hydraulic system.
When a ship needs to pass, the bascules are raised using electric motors.
The bridge operator controls the process from a control room in the South Tower.
Warning signals are activated, and the bascules are gradually lowered once the ship has passed.
When I mentioned that The Tower Bridge Experience would be worth it if you like history and/or mechanics, what I am really thinking of are the incredible steam engines you can still see as part of your visit.
It's the highlight of the experience for me - even more than the glass walkways.
What time do the lights come on at Tower Bridge?
Tower Bridge is adorned with over 40,000 LED lights which are typically switched on around sunset.
However, the exact timing can vary depending on the season and daylight hours.
Does Tower Bridge light up every night?
Yes, it is illuminated every night.
Although I, and a few other tour guides, have discussed the fact that they very rarely seem to all be in full force all of the time.
When I am finishing my tour near the bridge in the winter and it is dark, sometimes huge chunks of the lights are out!
I recommend checking during the winter for the brightest experience after dark.
What are the London Bridge Opening Times?
Believe it or not, never!
The London Bridge is different, and it cannot lift for any vessel.
I love it when Tower Bridge opens while I am doing a tour because I, and the group, get very excited.
As the ship comes into the Pool, we all line up and we take photographs and then - inevitably - somebody will look to see where ship is headed.
And what they'll notice is that the craft is headed straight toward London Bridge...which doesn't actually open!
All this fuss and fanfare for what is essentially going to be a U-Turn back through Tower Bridge.
And, again, I have had hundreds if not thousands of visitors assume that Tower Bridge IS London Bridge.
For more details about the differences between these landmarks, please read my definitive post covering the London Bridge vs Tower Bridge.
Plan Your Visit
I do recommend trying to plan a bridge lift into your itinerary - but don’t spend too much time agonising over how and when to see the Tower Bridge opening.
Instead, check to see when the next bridge opening is scheduled for and arrive about 10 minutes ahead of time to make sure you’ve got a good vantage point.
Or, if you are around without having planned a visit, just keep an eye on the water!
Sometimes I will see tall boats heading toward Tower Bridge and I know, then, that the bridge is going to open - so keep those eyes peeled!
Consider a Nighttime Visit
If you want to avoid the crowds, I'd suggest a nighttime visit.
The Bridge is usually very well-lit after dark (aside from some of those dodgy bulbs I mentioned...), and it’s an entirely different experience to see this landmark at night versus during the day.
Some Tower Bridge openings take place well after dark – some even past midnight!
If you’re interested in seeing a bridge opening and you’ve never seen it after dark, consider heading out for one of the later scheduled lifts to see what it looks like at night.
I always think pictures of the bridge raising in the dark are even more impressive than the day time ones.
And, again, in the winter months our All in One Walking Tour will finish down by the bridge so you can see the lights for yourself.
For more tips and suggestions, make sure to read my post covering how to plan a visit to Tower Bridge.
Fact: Tower Bridge is part of City Bridge Foundation, the organization responsible for the upkeep of five bridges in Central London.
These are:
- Tower Bridge
- London Bridge - I find many of my guests get London Bridge and Tower Bridge mixed up. It's always so fun to show people the REAL London Bridge on my tour and see that it's not what they were expecting!
- Southwark Bridge - Built predominantly by women - one of my favourite London facts!
- Blackfriars Bridge - Site of a bizarre Mafia murder in 1982.
- The Millennium Bridge - I think most people know the Millennium Bridge better as the "wobbly" bridge, or for my guests that like Harry Potter as much as I do, it's known for being blown up by the Death Eaters in the film franchise.
How to make the most of your Tower Bridge visit?
If you do decide to go inside Tower Bridge, here is the route you will most likely follow:
- Start your visit by ascending the North Tower.
- Proceed along the East Walkway and West Walkway, traversing the well-known Glass Floors.
- Descend to ground level by going down the South Tower.
- Next, trace the Blue line honoring Tower Bridge workers.
- Conclude your visit by entering the Victorian Engine Rooms (the grand finale and, honestly, my favourite part!)
